NGARA District Commissioner (DC) Colonel Mathias Kahabi has signed the compensation schedules/reports for Tembo Nickel’s Kabanga Nickel Project, a landmark step that paves the way for final review and validation of the schedules by the government Chief Valuer to allow the company to make mandatory compensation to Project Affected Persons (PAPs) before commencement of the undertaking.
After signing the reports, Col Kahabi said he was pleased to see the completion of the valuation process, adding that there were only a few more steps left before compensation and final project development.
“This is a long-awaited milestone not only by the Project Affected Persons but also the whole of Ngara community. We believe Tembo Nickel will have significant contribution to our communities and to the economic growth of our nation as a whole once it kickstarts the Kabanga Nickel operations.
“By signing these schedules today (yesterday) it signifies that we are getting ready to witness the commencement of the project through which people will get to see its fruits.
“I would like to thank Tembo Nickel Country Manager, Mr Benedict Busunzu and his team for working to ensure that this project takes off. President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan is looking forward to achieving the goal for the benefit of the respective communities and the nation at large,” he remarked.
He appealed to the approximately 1,300 Project Affected Persons to be patient, while the Chief Government Valuer reviews schedules for validation, so that they could be appropriately compensated.
“The intention of the government is to ensure that each Project Affected Person is compensated fairly before their land is acquired. We also understand that mining of nickel in Ngara will benefit the whole nation,” he said.
Expounding, Col Kahabi said, “This is a large and strategic project that is expected to have tremendous economic impact, and this is why the Minister for Minerals, Dr Doto Biteko and the Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Dr Angeline Mabula have been working closely with us to guide us and follow on its progress towards this milestone.”
RSK Contractor for Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) Consultant for Tembo Nickel, Mr Basil Shio, said before the reports were signed by the DC several steps in the process were followed as required by the law, including disclosing the compensation schedules to the Project Affected Persons for their validation.
According to Mr Shio, before compensation is made all the affected persons will receive financial literacy training, which will be followed by special bank accounts opening, specifically joint accounts through which compensation payments will be channeled.
“We know that some people have bank accounts but we want to ensure that all the money dished out as compensation reaches the affected person. These are special accounts whereby the company will bear all the bank charges.
Project valuers began land and asset surveys in July 2022. The project area was delianated and surveyed, all the affected community were identified, compensation schedules were developed and disclosed to affected persons as per the law before signed by respective Village and Ward Executives Officers , District Valuer and District Land Officer and thereafter the District Commissioner (DC).